Circular-knitting machine



6 sheetssmet 1.

(No Model.)

E'. E. KILBOURN. GIR-G ULAR vK1\TII.".[']1\TG MACHINE.

Patented July so, 1889.

(No Model.) Y 6 Sheets-Sheet 2., E. E. K1LBOURN. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented July so, 188:9.,

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(No Model.) 6 SheetS--Sheet E. E. KIVLQURN. CIRCULAR KNITTING' MACHINE.

No. 408,110. Patented July 30, 1889.

@50i-knew@ o N. PETERS Pholouthngrapher, washlngtcn, D. c.

(No Model.) 6 sheets-sheet 4. E. E. KILBOURN..

CIRCULAR KNITTINC MACHINE.

Patented July so, 1889.

gm @51g w at ww/ (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

El; E. KILBOURN..

CIRCULAR KNITTINC MACHINE. No. 408,110. Y Patented July fff//n JJM/@wwwa 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

E. E. KILBOURN.

CIRCULAR KNITTINC MACHINE.

Patented July 30, 18189.

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UNTTED STATES i PATENT FFICE.

EDVARD E. KILBOURN, OF NEV BRUN SVICK, NET JERSEY.

ciRcULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,110, dated July 30, 1889.

Original application filed June 14, 1887, Serial Nox 241,243. Divided and this application tiled May 9, 1889. Serial No. 3101077.

(No model.) u

T0 @ZZ whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. KILBOURN, a citizen of the United States, residingl at New l-Brunswick, in the county ot Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 'in Circular- Knitting Machines 5 and l do hereby declareI the following to be a i'ull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whiehitappertains to make and use the same.

This invention has reference to cylinder knitting-machines in which a circular series of needles is employed for circular work and also for reciprocating work.

The saidinvention is illustra-ted in the aceoml'ianying drawings, and is fully described in the following specification and claims, the present case being a division of application, Serial No. 241,243, vfiled by me June it, 1887.

The object of this invention is to facilitate the Work of attending to this class of machines by providing means for holding ldown the work during the operation otl narrowing, and when it is desired to cast ott the work, as in the case of a iinished article.

It has also for its object to provide means for automatically throwing more or less of the needles out of and into operation, in combination with a reciprocating thread-guide, for the purpose of narrowing and widening the work.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a front viewot a circular-knitting machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a View of the rear of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section ot" said machine through the axis of the needle-cylinder, some parts being represented in elevation. Fig. 4- is alongitudinal section ot' a portion of the machine to the lett of the axis of the knittingcylinder. Fig. 5 represents the corresponding longitudinal section of the other portion of the machine to the right of `said axis. Fig. 5"L isa view of the needles employed in the machine. Fig. 5l is a partial plan view, on a reduced scale, showing a part of the operating mechanism. Fig. G is a section of a part ot' side of one ot' the carriers for the pickers. Fig. E) is a View et the outside of the same. Fig. 10 is a top view of the same. Fig. 1l is a vertical transverse section of one of said carriers, and'Fig. l2 represents a similar partial section showing another 'forni of guidinggroove. Fig. 13 is a view of parts ot the mechanism detached.

The machine herein shown is generally used i'or knitting seamless stockings by 'lirst knitting' the leg by a continuous circular movement operating all of the needles of the knitting-cylinder. The heel is then formed by a gang ot' needles used for reciprocating work, which are operated by the reciproeation of the proper operating mechanism, during reciprocating work a certain portion of the needles at each side ot the gang being successively thrown out of operation to effect the narrowing of the web, which is then widened by throwing the said needles successively into operation in a reverse order. The foot of the stocking is then formed by a continuous circular movement of the operating devices by operating all of the needles, and the stocking is finished by forming the toe in the same manner as the heel. Thilo this is the most general mode of proceeding in using the machine, it may also be used by commencing the stocking at the toe and reversing the order of operation here described. Theneedles of the reciprocating gang l term the fashioningneedles,7 and shall so referto them in the following description.

The needles preferably used in the machine are latch-needles having' pivoted latches o't1 the usual construction, and the shank of each is secured to or made in one piece with a projection or nib, upon which the cams act for the purpose ot' moving the needles. 'lheneedles are arranged in a circular series and are iitted to slide up and down in the groove of the knitting-cylinder A and its nosing A. The needles are operated by means ot' two cams, which, as shown in section at B B, Fig. 3, and in detailFig. 7, are arranged one above the other and secured to cam-cylinders B2 B3, which are concentric with the circular series of needles and are fitted to turn around the knitting-cylinderA. The lower cani-cylinder is supported by a ring or support b, (see Figs.

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3, 4, and 6,) and theupper cam-cylinder E2 is supported upon the lower. The lower camcylinder B2 is held in place by means of studs bx, secured to the ring-bearing b, which studs lit in a dovetailed groove b of the cam-cylinder. The upper cam-cylinder is held in place by means of screws 5*, whose heads are received in a groove b2 of the upper cam-cylinder. The upper cam-cylinder B2 is employed, preferably, to operate the gang of needles, which are put bodily out of operation when the heel and toe of a stocking are knit, the lower cam-cylinder B3 being employed, pret erably, in operating the gang of needles which are employed, in combination with a reciproeating thread-guide, to knit the heel and toe of the stocking. In order to adapt the needles to the positions of these cams, thoseneedles which are to be operated by the upper cam B have their nibs arranged at the required distance from their heads to be operated by that cam for-circular work, and those needles which are to be operated by the cam B during widening and narrowing-namely, the fashioning-needles-have their nibs arranged at the required distance from their heads to be operated by that cam. for both circular work and reciprocating work.

All the needles are guided when moving lengthwise of their shanks by being fitted to slide in grooves of the knitting-cylinder A and its nosing A. The nosing A is not secured rigidly to the knitting-cylinder A, but is made adjustable by beingiitted to slide up and down within it without being turned. This is accomplished by supporting' said nosing upon a screw-threaded ring A2, whose screw-threads engage with an internal screw of the knitting-cylinder, so that the said ring holds the nosing in position to which itmay be adjusted. By turning this screwed ring the nosing may be adjusted higher or lower to correspond with the lengths of the loops that are being drawn down by the needles. The nosing A is prevented from turning, preferably by means of a pin and an upright groove, the pin being secured to the nosing and the upright groove being formed in the inner face of the knitting-cylinder A.

Vhen the entire series of needles is operated for knitting straight circular work-such as the leg of a stocking-both cam-cylinders B2 B3 are caused to revolve continuously and simultaneously, so that each needle of the entire circular series is caused in succession to move lengthwise to and fro as required, to take the yarn for the loop formed by it and to cast off the preceding loop or stitch. For this purpose the two cam-cylinders are connected by gearing with and given a continuous rotary motion by the main driving-shaft D. The connection between the lower camcylinder B3 and the main driving-shaft D is by means of a main wheel e, secured to the lower cam-cylinder B3, the intermediate wheel e', litted to turn on a stud e2, the pinion e2,

secured to the upper end of the upright shaft 1 c4, the beveled pinion e5, secured to the lower end of the shaft e4, the beveled wheel e, gearing` into the beveled pinion c, the beveled pinion e7, connected with the beveled wheel e6 and iitted to turn upon a shaft e2, and a beveled wheel e, which is secured to the main driving-shaft B and revolves with it. When, therefore, the driving-shaft is caused to revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l, the lower cam-cylinder is caused to revolve continuously in the direction indicated by the arrow in said Fig. l.

The upper cam-cylinder B2 is preferably caused to revolve by being connected with the lower cam-cylinder B3, and the most convenient method of connecting the two cam-cylinders is by means of a lug c', secured to the cam-cylinder B3, which receives its revolving movement directly from the driving-shaft B, and a pivoted latch or lug c2, secured to the other cam-cylinder B2 and adapted to be cngaged by the lug c. VVhen the cylinder B3 is revolved in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. l, the lug c will engage the latch c2 and the two cam-cylinders will revolve together. The cam-cylinders can be turned by hand independently of each other, and'if the cam-cylinder B3 be rotated backward the lug c will pass under and lift the latch c2, allowing the cam-cylinder B2 to remain stationary.

l provide a thread-guide E to feed the thread to the entire series of needles when knitting' circular work. This thread-guideis mounted upon and carried by the cylinder B2, and delivers the yarn to the needles in succession before the cam-cylinders operate upon their nibs. In order that this circular threadguide may be readily moved out of its operative position when the heel and toe of the stocking are to be knit, it is pivotally secured upon the cam-cylinder B2, and a suitable locking device is provided to lock the said thread-guide and hold it both when in and out of operative position, as more particularly described and shown in my application Serial No. 310,078.

In order that the latches of the needles may be kept from accidentally flying up when knitting circular work and that they may be positively thrown down, l provide` the latch* guard or follower f'which is connected with the stock of the tliread-guide, and is adapted to be thrown into and out of operative position with said thread-guide.

The heads of the needles work in combination with the nosing A, and the tightness of the loops drawn by the needles is determined by the position of the upper edge of said nosing. The partitions of this nosing between the needles consist of hooks a, with which the loops engage, so that when the needle-heads are raised the loops of the work are held by the hooks and do not rise with the needle. The hook-partitions, as shown in Fig U, have each two inelines a and CL2-one above and one below the projection constituting the IOO IZO

hook. The hook is located slightly above the casting-off point of the needles, so that as a needle descends, carrying the thread supplied by the thread-guide, the thread is engaged by the inclines a and a proper amount drawn off to form a loop. The further descent of the needle brings the thread on each side of the previously-formed loop against the inclin es a2, drawing the loop tightly against the needle. This incline a2 extends inward a sufficientdistance to limit the downward movement of such former loop and the web, which forces the needle to cast off. f As it does so, the elasticity of the thread brings the loop cast off inward, and, as the part of each partition just beneath the hook extends inward as far or slightly farther than-the outer face of the body of the needle, all portions of the knitted material after they have once left the needle are kept out of the path of the needle,whereby the latter is prevented from rising or passing through a loop a second time. This part of the hook-partition, also, in the operation of start-ing a web or article, serves to hold the thread first taken downby theneedle inward and against the outer face of the needles in such a position that on a second depression of the needle perfect loops are formed and the web or article begun without any other operation of setting up the same.

In order to hold the upper cam-cylinder out of operation when reciprocating work is being done, I provide a locking device for such cylinder, which consists, preferably, of a notchedlatch E, which engages a lug a on the cam-cylinder B2. This locking-latch may be thrown into and out of operation by any preferred means. In my application Serial No. 24:1,243 I have shown and particularly described one form of mechanism for effecting this result.

During the reciprocating work I prefer to cause the cam-cylinder B3 to move to and fro by a portion of the same gearing which is used for operating it during circular work and to employ supplementary gearing' to complete the movement. I prefer in this connection to use a supplementary driving-shaft D for reciprocating work, and to connect so much of the gearing as is then used with that su pplement-ary driving-shaft. The portion of the main gearing previously described, which is used in the said machine for reciprocating' work, consists of the main wheel e, the intermediate wheel e', the pinion e3, the uprig'ht shaft c4, the beveled pinion e5, and the beveled wheel c6. The other portion ofthe main gearing, which remains connected with the main driving-shaft, consists of the two wheels e7 and e9. In order that the former portion of the gearing may be reciprocated for reciprocating work, the beveled wheel eG is not made fast to the beveled wheel e7, and the connection of the said beveled wheel e with the beveled wheel eT for circular work consist-s of disconncctible drivers, comprising, preferably, two lugs 7L h', one of which is secured to the back'of the beveled wheel e, while the other lug` is connected with the beveled wheel c7, which is driven by the driving-shaft B. This mode of connection permits the wheel e6 to be rotated to and fro without affecting the driving-shaft D.

The supplementary driving-shaft is connected with the beveled wheel e through the intervention of a reciprocating rack II and a pinion 010, which is driven by said rack, and is connected with the beveled wheel e6. The stock of the reciprocating rack H is fitted to slide in bearings connected with the main frame, and it is connected by a coni'lectingrod I'I with a crank H2, which is secured to the shaft H3, and this crankshaft is connected with the supplementary driving shaft by means of beveled wheels e and cl2. In order that the said reciprocating mechanism may be connected with and disconnected from the cam cylinder B3, the connection is made through the intervention of a clutch member I, Eig. 13, whose hub is fitted to slide upon pinion-shaft es, and is connected with it by a spline or feather of the usual construction. The clutch member I has a tooth t', which is adapted to engage a notch formed in the hub t" of the wheel e, and the portion of the main gearing connecting it with the cam-cylinder B3 and the said cam-cylinder is caused to reciprocate by the continuous revolution of the driving-shaft D. This clutch memberI may be moved by means of a shipper, one arm of which ,I is forked and engages a groove of the clutch-member, and the other J has the form of a handle, the two parts being' connected by a vertical shaft suitably mounted on the main frame.

The yarn is fed to the fashioning-needles during reciprocating work by means of a supplemcntary thread-guide E', which has an arm E2 extending into the path of aprojection or projections on the cam-cylinder B3, by means of .which said thread-guide is reciprocated with said cylinder in advance of the cam B. This reciprocating thread-guide is pivotally mounted in the end of au arm E, which is in turn supported by a standard E3, and means are provided for locking the said thread-guide when in its operative position, and also when it is swung out of engagement with the knitting-cylinder, as more particularly described in` my application Serial No. 310,078.

The fashioning-needles are raised and lowered out of and into operative position during narrowing and widening by means of pickers K, Figs. 8, 9, l0, ll, and 12,0ne for each side of the gang of fashioning-needles. Each of these pickers is tted to slide up and downin a carrier L, which is moved to place the picker in position to operate upon the required needle. Each carrier is fittedin grooves 7u k in the frame-work of the machine, said grooves being concentric with the series of needles, so that the pickers may operate successively upon the needles in exactly the same manner.

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These grooves being concentric with the knittingcylinder, and the carriers being segmental in form, the said carriers will work in the same grooves on opposite sides of the knitting-cylinder. This construction enables me to employ short pickers and construct them of the same size for both sides of the machine. If preferred, the ends of the carriers may be grooved, and the grooves 7c Za may be replaced by circular ribs, as shown at Zcl, Fig. l2.

ln order that the same picker may be used to move the needle for narrowing out of its working position, and to move it for widening into its workin g position, each picker is provided with two lugs 7a3 7,33, Figs. 8 and 1l, one of which k3 acts beneath the supplementary nib of the needle-shank and pushes the needle out of its working position for narrowing, while the other 7c3 acts upon the upper side of said nib and pulls it back into its working position for widening. ln order to effect this, these two lugs are placed in different vertical and horizontal planes. (See Fig. ll.) The pickers are caused to rise and fall by means of areciprocating cam K, which is preferably fitted to turn upon the stock of the knittingcylinder below the knitting-cams, and each picker K is provided with a pin 7c1,which engages the groove of the said cam K for operating the said picker. The picker-cam is provided on its periphery with gear-teeth kf, which engage with the teeth of a gear-segment k, which is fitted to vibrate upon a stud 707, secured to the frame of the machine. To this segment is secured a second segment n,

, whose teeth are engaged by those of a rack bers n4 n.5 of a cam N3, which is secured to the crank-shaft H3 of the machine, which is driven by the supplementary driving-shaft D. lt will be seen that a revolution of the shaft lil3 will cause a reciprocation of 111e rack M, segments n and 7c3 thereby actuating the cam K and the pickers K.

The best time at which a needle can be moved out of operation for narrowing the work is in the interval of the knitting movement of the needle, which occurs after the cam B of the cam-cylinder B3, while being moved in a direction toward the side of the fashioning-needles at which the needle is to be raised, has passed by the nib of that needle and before the cam is returned to the position of the nib of that needle. On the other hand, the needle which is to be moved into its operative position for widening the work must be moved by the picker before the leading end point of the cam B of the cam-cylinder B3 reaches that needle. The members of the cam N2 which operate the picker-cam K and the picker-cam groove should therefore be so shaped and the movement of the said parts be so timed as to move the pickers K at the said time, as above set forth.

When a needle is moved out of its operative position, it should beheld positively from returning until it is again wanted for widening the work. This is effected by means of the needle-holder m, Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11,0ne of which is used with each picker and is connected with the respective carrier L thereof. This needle-holder m consists, preferably, of a ring-segment, which is supported and fit-ted to move in a groove located in the inner face of the carrier L, and'is supported at its inner edge in a groove formed by two collars 'In' of the knitting-cylinder. rllhe needle-holder is movable in the carrier and the spring m3 is applied to move it independently of the carrier. Vhen the carrier is moved in the direction of the arrow m4, Figs. 8 and 9, to place the picker in position to move a needle out of the workin g position, the end of the holder m is pressed laterally against the shank of that needle, the spring m3 yielding to permit the carrier to move without carrying the holder with it. lVhen the needle is raised by the picker, the spring m3 forces the needleholder beneath the raised needle and holds it positively in its raised position. The circular extent of the needle-holder is suficient to hold all the needles which are successively raised for narrowing the work. NVhen the carrier is moved outwardthat is, in the diln order that narrowing or widening may be effected, the carrier must be moved to an extent equal to the distance between the centers of the needles, so as to remove the picker from the needle upon which it has already operated to the next needle in the gang. In the machine represented in the drawings both of the carriers L are moved equally, but in alternate succession, so that the needles at the opposite side of the gang of fashioning-needles may be raised or lowered alternately and successively.

The alternating movement of the pickers K with an interval of rest after each carrying or shifting movement of the picker is effected by means of the driving-shaft which operates the cam-cylinder B3. Each carrier L is iitted with a worm-segment Z, which is engaged by a screw Z, secured to the shaft Z3, which is fitted both to turn and to move endwise in its bearings. Each screw-sha'ftis fitted with a pinion Z3, the teeth of which engage with those of a wheel Z4, which is a driving-wheel common to both pinions Z3 Z3, as

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shown in Fig. l. This wheel Z1 is caused to turn continuously during reciprocating lnitting. The gearing' between the screws Z Z and the supplementary driving-shaft is so proportioned that each screw is caused to revolve one-half of a revolution for each revolution of the crankshaft H9, which imparts a reciprocating movementto the thread-guide E', as before described, and the pitch of the screws Z Z is double the pitch or gage of the needles in the series, so that a half-turn of the screw is suflicient to move the carrier which it controls and the lifter ofthe carrier from one needle to the next in the series. rlhe screws are given an endwise movement for the purpose of giving the carrier a period of rest before each advance by a cam, and I prefer to use two cams for each screw and to arrange these in the form of cam-collars Z, Fig. 3. These cam-collars, one of which is shown in Fig. 3, are located at the opposite sides of the bearings Z9, in which the screwshaft revolves, and the screw-shaft is iitted with pins Z7, one of which is shown in Fig. 3, which bear against the collars, so that as these pins move during the turning of the screw along the inclined faces of the cam-collars the screw-shaft Z2 and screw Z are caused to move endwise, as clearly shown and described in my application Serial No. 310,079.

During the narrowing of the worlc the carrier is caused to move endwise-that is, to approach the middle of the gang of fashioir ing-needles then at work with the reciprocating thread-guide-and during the widening of the work the carrier is caused to move outward, In order that these movements in re verse direction may be obtained from the drivingshaft while always revolving` inthe same direction, the screw-driving wheel Z4 is connectedwith the supplementary drivingshaft D of the machine through the intervention of gearing, comprising two racks, or gearwheels acting as racks, which are moved alterna'tely in opposite directions. The screwdriving wheel Z1, which is fitted to revolve upon a stud secured to the frame of the machine, has secured to its hub a beveled pinion Z9, Fig. 3, which engages with a beveled wheel Z9, whose hub Z11 is fitted to turn upon the stock of the knitting-cylinder A. A corresponding beveled wheel Z19 having its t-eeth opposed to the teeth of wheel Z9, is also secured to the same hub Z11, so that the two wheels revolve together. These wheels I prefer to denominate change-wheels.7 At the side of the hub of these beveled Wheels which is opposite to the beveled pinion Z9 a second beveled pinion Z12 is arranged, and this beveled pinion is connected to the supplementary dri ving-shaft D through the intervention of the wheel Z19, secured to the hub of the beveled pinion Z19, the intermediate wheel Z1, secured to an intermediate pinion Z15, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) the pinion Z1, (also shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2,) secured to the cranlshaft H9, and the beveled wheels @11 @19, which impart motion from the supplementary driving-shaft D to the crank-shaft H3.. The diameter of the pinion Z12 is smaller than the space between the faces of the reversely-beveled wheels Z9 and Z111, so that it can operate in connection with one of said beveled wheels without touching the teeth of the other, and

the shifting of the driving pinion from one of said wheels to the other changes t-he direction of rotation of said wheels, thereby7 reversing the direction of rotation of the screws Z Z and the carriers L.

In order that the driving-pinion may be shifted automatically from one wheel to the other, the hub of said driving-pinion Z12 and of the wheel Z19, secured to said pinion, is fitted to turn upon a stud Z1?, which is movable, it being held by an arm Z1S, which is fitted to swing upon the axis of the intermediate wheel Z14, so that the driving-pinion may be shifted from one of the change-wheels Z9 Z19 to the other without affecting the engagement of the wheels ZI3 and Z15. The driving-pinion is also provided with a stud or roller Z19, Fig. 3, and the hub Z11 of the change-wheels is provided with a rail Z911, secured thereto between said change-wheels. rlwo segments Z21 are preferably secured, by means of screws, between the change-wheels, the teeth of the segment corresponding with those of the changewheels. Zhen the driving-pinion impelling either' of the change-wheels causes the appropriate segment to come into gear with the pinion-teetl1, said pinion engages said segment and is shifted from one of said changewheels to the other and the end of the rail Z20 is in the proper position to permit t-he stud or roller Z19 of the driving-pinion to pass around it during this shifting operation and the said IOO rail serves to hold said driving-pinion in eny gagement with one or the other of said chan gewheels by means of the stud Z19. The extents of the portions of the change-wheels which are between the segments and which are operated by the driving-pinion before shifting determine the number of turns imparted to the carrier-screw, the number of times the carriers are moved, and the number of needles that are moved into and out of operation in Widening and narrowing the work. As the wheels Z9 and Z10 are moved alternately in opposite direction, they operate to change the direction in which the carriers are moved and are therefore denominated changewheels.7 It will be noticed that the segments Z21, which connect the change-wheels, are set behind or within the line of the teeth of said wheels. This is convenient because it permits the two beveled wheels, with their hub, to be readily cast in one piece. It also permits machines of the same pattern to .be readily adapted to the widening and narrowing of work to a greater or less extent by setting the segments farther apart or nearer together, thereby increasing or diminishing the number of teeth on the change-wheels between the two segments. It is also advan- IIO tageous because it permits one of the said change-wheels to operate the driven pinion Z8, as the segments are within the line of the teeth of the change-wheels and the said segments do not interfere wit-h sai d pinion. then a change is made in the positions of the segments, the length of the rail P0 must be correspondingly lengthened or shortened as the segments are set farther apart or nearer together.

By employing the mechanism above described the picker-carriers are given positive movements of exactly the required extent to shift the picker from one needle to the next at each side of the series, andthere is no possibility of the carrier being shifted by accident or missing a movement or of being moved to a greater extent than is required. I also provide the machine with automatic means for shifting the belt from 'fast to loose pulleys on each of the drivingshafts l B of the machine on the completion of certain predetermined movements, as shown, and particularly described in my application Serial No. 241,243; but these form no part of the invention herein claimed and a detailed description of them is not given.

The operation of the hook-partitions of the nosing of the knitting-cylinder is important in connection with the devices for narrowing and widening herein shown and described. As soon as a needle has been thrown up out of operative position at each side of the gang of fashioning-needles, such needles sustain all the weight or tension upon the web at that side of the machine, so that the web between such needles is not subjected to strain or tension during the remainder of the operation of narrowing` and widening until those nee` dles are returned to their operative positions. In order, therefore, to secure the proper casting off of the loops in the progress of the Work during this period, it is customary' for the operator to put a tension or strain upon that portion of the web by pressing` it down and away from the needles with the finger or some instrument conveniently at hand. When a needle at the side of the fashioning-gang has been raised, the thread extends from the outer or farther side of this needle outward, and on the return of the thread-guide it is carried to the next needle. It is almost an impossibility to apply any tension sufficient to prevent the raising of the work at such points. The hook-partition of thenosing, therefore, not. only supplies the place of a special tension on the web, but it acts to retain the loops on the needle or needles next adjacent to the last 'needle raised out of operation, which cannot be accomplished by any tension device.

In knitting during the process of narrowing, in consequence of withdrawal of all tension on the web or knitted material on needles next adjacent to the last needles thrown out of operation, there is a difficulty in securing the proper casting off of the loops from such needles, and the hook-partitions perform an important service in respect to this part of the operation and effect this casting off with certainty in such a manner as to secure the best results.

The needleoj'lerating cams, general actuating mechanism, and stop devices are made the subject of my application Serial No. 241,243, filed J une 14, 1887 5 the thread-supplying devices the subject of my application Serial No. 310,078, filed May 9, 1.889, and the narrowing and widening` mechanism the subject of my application Serial No. 310,079, filed May 9, 1889, and are not claimed herein.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the knitting-cylinder, the cam which operates the gang of fashioning-needles for both circular work and reciprocating work, the cam which operates the other gan of needles for circular work, the gang of fashioning-needles having their nibs arranged to be operated by the said iirst cam, the other gang of needles having their nibs arranged to be operated only by the said second cam, and the hook-partitions of the nosin g by which the work is prevented from rising.

2. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the needle-cylinder, the cam-cyl inder for operating the needles for reciprocating work, the needles, the picker, the carrier, and the hook-partitions of the needle-cylinder, which not only hold down the work during narrowing, but which press the stitches forward out of the way of the needles.

The combination, as before set forth, of a needle-cylinder, and cams for both circular and reciprocating work, with a gang of necdles all of which are operated for circular work, but a portion of which are thrown out of operation for narrowing during reciprocating work, but which retain their stitches while out of operation, the said needle-cylinder bel ing provided with stationary hookspartitions,

which not only hold down the work during narrowing, but press the stitches forward out of the way of the needles.

il. The combination, with a needle-cylinder, of needles a part of which are thrown out of operation for narrowing during reciprocating work, but which retain their stitches while out of operation, and cams for operating the needles for circular and reciprocating work, the said needle-cylinder being provided with stationary hook-partitions between its needlegrooves, said partitions having inclines below the hooks to assist in casting off the stitches, and a part above said inclines and below the hooks for holding the stitches inward out of the way of the needles, substantially as described.

5. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of a needle-cylinder provided at the top with stationary hook-partitions between the needle-grooves, each of said hook-partitions having an outwardly-inclined point at IOO IIO

operated by the reciprocating oznn for reciprocating Work, the other gang of needles having` nbs arranged to be operated bythe rstnamed ezun for Circular Work, and The hookpartions, whereby the Work is prevented from rising'.

In testimony whereof I aiix my Signature in 2o presence of two Witnesses.

EDWARD E. KILBOURN.

Titnessesz C. H. WHITAKER, L. R. WHITAKER. 

